[Elecraft] K3 Beta firmware rev. 2.45 -- TX noise gate, TX INH improved, new remote-control commands

[wayne burdick]

K3 beta-test firmware revision 2.45 (with DSP rev 1.92) is now 
available. Highlights:

* transmit noise gate feature for voice modes

* a change in the way the transmit inhibit (TX INH) function works

* many new remote-control commands for software developers

Other details appear below. Be sure to use the latest revision of K3 
Utility to do the downloads.

Please send any problem reports to k3support at elecraft.com. For 
instructions on how to load beta firmware, please see:

   http://www.elecraft.com/K3/k3_software.htm

73,
Wayne
N6KR

* * *

MCU 2.45 / DSP 1.92, 9-29-2008

* TRANSMIT NOISE GATE ADDED:  The TX noise gate can be used to suppress
transmitted audio below a certain level, e.g. a noisy fan (not the one 
on the K3, of
course). To use the noise gate, locate CONFIG:TX GATE, tap ‘1’ to turn 
it ON,
then use VFO A to set the desired threshold. Since there’s no visual 
indication that
transmit audio is below the threshold, you should adjust it using the 
transmit voice
monitor (MON), ideally using headphones. Set the threshold high enough 
to cut off
transmit audio due to shack noise, but not so high that it causes your 
voice to drop
out too frequently. The TX GATE threshold can be adjusted in TX TEST 
mode.

* TRANSMIT INHIBIT (TX INH) FUNCTION IMPROVED: Activating the TX INH 
input
on the ACC jack now asynchronously suspends RF output. It has no 
interaction
with transmit sequencing. When TX INH is active, the only indication is 
that the
“TX” LCD icon flashes, as in TX TEST mode. This should closely match 
the transmit
inhibit logic of other transceivers.

* COARSE TUNING CORRECTED: (1) Downward tuning with COARSE increments in
effect occasionally resulted in the synthesizer unlocking, especially 
in AM mode with
9-kHz European broadcast band increments. (2) Tuning down to the low 
end of
the K3’s tuning range would cause quantization. For example, if you 
were at 505 kHz
with 9 kHz steps selected and tuned downward one tic, the VFO would go 
to
500 kHz, and the next upward tic would be 509 kHz. Both of these 
problems
have been corrected.

* “VOX=OFF” REMINDER: Whenever you change the VOX setting from ON to OFF
in CW mode, then sometime later hit the key, you’ll see a one-time 
“VOX=OFF”
message. This is a subtle reminder that VOX must be turned ON in CW 
mode to
enable hit-the-key operation. (Otherwise you have to “arm” the 
transmitter
by tapping XMIT or by using PTT. This has always been the case for the 
K3, and
most rigs behave in the same way.) We decided to add this reminder 
message because
operators not familiar with “VOX for CW” have occasionally turned it 
off,
only to wonder later why the rig won’t transmit in CW mode.

* TRANSMIT DISABLED DURING FIRMWARE LOADS:  You cannot key the
transmitter during firmware loads, via KEY IN, PADDLE, PTT, XMIT, VOX, 
or
computer commands.

For Software Developers:

(Refer to the K3 Programmer’s reference, rev. B10 or later.)

* "OM" COMMAND ADDED: Shows which K3 option modules are installed.

* "MP" COMMAND ADDED: Menu parameter direct read/set. Only applies to
selected menu entries, as listed in the programmer’s reference.

* "MG" COMMAND ADDED: Mic gain read/set.

* "MD$" COMMAND ADDED: Direct sub receiver/VFO B mode read/set.

* "IS" COMMAND ADDED (I.F. shift).

* “FW0000x” form of the FW command can now handle x = 1 through 5
(use with "K30" and "K22" command modes -- see programmer's reference)

* Added the following AI2 (auto-info) responses:  PC, AG, AG$, RG, RG$, 
NB, NORM (FW).


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